Bracket.



F. J. MORAN.

' Patented Sept. 14,1909.

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FRANK J. MORAN, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT.

BRACKET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 14, 1909.

Application filed November 18, 1908. Serial No. 463,171.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, F. J. MORAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at New Britain, in the county of Hartford and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inBrackets, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to shelf brackets and the like, the object being toprovide an integral, or one-piece, device of this character, which maybe rapidly and economically produced; which shall contain a minimum ofstock without sacrifice of strength and durability.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation on a smallscale of my improved bracket. Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view thereof.Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the bracket, showing a slightmodification. Fig. 4 is a plan view of a blank of an outline suitablefor the production of a bracket similar to those shown in the previousviews, but which is specially formed with reference to producing abracket like that particularly shown in Fig. 3.

Referring first to the bracket shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seenthat said bracket is of angular form, comprising two main arms 1 and 2'bent at substantially right angles. At the inner side of the arms 1 and2 and integral therewith are two strengthening ribs 3 and 4, serving tostiffen the arms, said ribs being formed respectively from the metal ofthe arms 1 and 2 by channeling the rear side of each arm, as at 34, Fig.2. At the meeting angle of the arms 1 and 2 an abnormally deep recess 5(Fig. 2) is formed, which produces an abnormal development or extensionof the ribbed portion at a corresponding point on the opposite side,forming in effect a powerful diagonal cross-brace 5, of U-shaped crosssection substantially straight for a portion of its length. Each rib 3and 4 in its normal development follows substantially an even incline,as indicated by the dotted lines w-m and 1 y respectively (Fig. 1).These ribs 3 and 4 serve merely to stiffen the arms 1 and 2, while theabnormally developed portion 5 constitutes, as distinguished from eachrib, a cross-brace connecting and supporting the two arms 1 and 2, thusvastly strengthening the bracket at its vulnerable point, to wit,

at the angle. In producing these brackets,

a single blank of lozenge or diamond-shaped outline (see the outline ofFig. 4) may be treated so as to produce a device of the conformation andappearance illustrated in Fig. 1. In Fig. 4, however, I have shown twolongitudinal slots ti -6 so that when such a blank is employed andtreated by suitable dies to form the metal up as a bracket, the bracketwill have the appearance of that indicated in Fig. 3, in which the sidearms 1 and 2 and the end ribs 3 and 4 correspond to similar parts shownin Figs. 1 and 2. In Fig. 3, the cross-brace is indicated at 5 the samebeing separated at its rear edge from the arms 1 and 2 at the meetingangle by the space 6. In this respect only is the device of Fig. 3different from the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

7 here it is desired to use unusually heavy stock, the form illustratedin Fig. 3 may be adopted with much success. In this instance, itrelieves wear and tear upon the dies, since it is unnecessary to stretchthe metal to that extent which would otherwise be necessary inofisetting the cross-brace 5 to secure substantial results. By thisarrangement it is also possible to offset the cross-brace to practicallyany desired extent with comparatively little effort. In the forming ofthe slots 66-, Fig. 4, it is preferable that the same be so spaced thatportions of the metal adjacent the meeting angle of the side arms 1 and2 will be turned down to form stiffening flanges 7-7 (Fig. 3) in linewith the sides of the ribs 3 and 4 and operating to continue said ribsfrom their outer ends directly up to the meeting angle of the side arms1 and 2 of the bracket in its finished state.

I am aware that heretofore one-piece brackets have been made of sheetmetal with mere corrugations in the two arms thereof for the purpose ofgiving rigidity to the arms, and I lay no claim thereto, since theimportant feature of my invention is the production of a bracket inwhich the arms thereof are connected by a unique crossbrace. By thisarrangement all occasion for border corrugations around the edge of thearms 1 and 2 is eliminated, and hence said arms may take a broad flatbearing or seat upon the surface of the parts to which the brackets areto be connected. WVhile, of course, such border corrugations might beemployed, they are not essential to the invention or to the productionof a practical article.

What I claim is:

1. A sheet metal bracket comprising two arms arranged at an angle, arecess at the rear of each of said arms forming a longitudinalstifiening rib on the front of each arm, a diagonal cross-brace having asubstantially straight portion of U-shaped cross section integrallyconnecting said arms and stiffening said bracket at the corner, saidcross-brace being formed by abnormally deepening the recessed portion atthe meet ing angle of the arms.

2. A sheet metal bracket comprising two arms arranged at an angle, arecess at the rear of each of said arms forming a longi tudinalstiffening rib on the front of eacli arm, a diagonal cross-braceconnecting said arms and stiffening said bracket at the corner, saidcross-brace being formed by ab normally deepening the recessed portionat the meeting angle of the arms, said crossbrace being separated at itsrear from said arms at the corner ofthe bracket.

3. A sheet metal bracket comprising two arms arranged at an angle, arecess at the rear of each of said arms forming a longitudinalstiffening rib on the front, of each arm, a diagonal cross-braceconnecting said arms and stiffening said bracket at the cor ner, saidcross-brace being formed by abnormally deepening the recessed portion atthe meeting angle of the arms, said crossbraee being separated at itsrear from said arms at the corner of the bracket, and stiffening flangeson said arms within the angle of the bracket to the rear of saidcross-brace.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.V

FRANK J, MORAN.

lVitnesses ANNA A. BOLGER, Gno. B. WARD.

